Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-02

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bearing and gestures OF Edward Eve
rett. He then stood before the com
mittee, long-haired and erect, cont
dent yet unassumiDg. As he warmed
to his work he threw his chest out until
bis form resembled that OF Fighting
Joe Hooker. Then he closed his eyes,
gave full play to his imagination and
power of logic, and the words poured
from his mouth like molten intellectual
gold. Facts, figures, antecedents-aIl
were at his command without reference
to notes Each was driven into place
by his powerful right arm without the
unclosing Of his eyes. The speech was
sprinkled with sarcasm doubly distilled.
1t was so severe in reference 10 Mr.
Whitney that Dan. Manning was about
to interrupt the speaker, when Whit
Dey himself, evidently charmed by the
orators constructive power OF thought
and facility Of expression, besought Mr.
Manning not to interfere. 1T was per
haps the greatest speech ever made be-
fore the State Committee, and possibly
much Of the consideration given 10
Irving Hall for years afterwards was
due to Cockran's eloquence on this oc-
Casion.
COLONEL FELLOWS
has not the magnificent presence OF
Cochran. The latter is built more like
Webster, while the former naturally re-
calls Stephen A. Douglas. His master
ly power of speech was shown in the
last two Democratic national conven-
tons. In Cincinnati John Kelly, who
had bolted the Democratic State ticket
the year before, contested the seats OF
the County Democracy Old Dick Hub
bard, of Texas, now Minister to Japan,
got the platform Unexpectedly and
opened up big boom for harmony.
His idea of harmony was to give
Kelly half the delegation. Dick is
built something like Durham bull.
He has compactness of body and of ex-
preston and mighty dignity of ora
tory. He roared to some purpose, and
the faces of the County Democracy be-
gan to blanche as their owners heard
the wave of applause responsive to
Dicks eloquence. Fellows sat among
them with arms folded, legs crossed,
and his curly-head at least foot lower
than the heads of the delegates near
him. Hubbard had undoubtedly cap
tured the convention when he closed.
As Fellows took the platform the silence
was so profound that if thistledown
had blown in you could have heard it
roll over the floor Of the hall.
The Colonel began by saying that he
had belonged to the Democracy from
the day Of his birth, and that he had
seen many strange signs and portents
in the political sky in his day, but this
was the first time in his life that he had
ever seen a Democratic State delegation
presenting the corpse of Democratic
candidate for Governor sits credentials
for admission 10 Democratic national
convention. In the clearest Anglo
Saxon and with the kcenest irony he
held "John Kelly's treason to light
and depicted its results. 1t WIS done
so aItiully and quietly that the most
rambunctious southerners were deeply
convinced of HubharG's mistake that
it was 10y the skin Of it, teeth that
Iammany was given even the courtesy
OF a seat in the hall. If Cochran had
been known to fame at that time and
had appeared on behalf OF Tammany
Hall, possibly the result might have
been different.
POLITICAL Plight.
Il 1904 Ill A.,
able intellectual champions had their
greatest fight. 1t occurred in the ma
tional convention at Chicago. Kelly
was fighting against the nomination OF
Cleveland tooth and toenail, aud Cock
ran was Tammany's champion. Fellows
upheld the honor of the County De
mocracy. He was sorely beset, first by |
Grady, next by Kelly, and finally by |
CockIan. Grady went down before
him like a common soldier, Kelly |
died as Brian De Bots Gilbert died, |
but Cochran was like old Zach |
Taylor-he never knew when he
was whipped, but like a true Irishman
fought to the last, when all hope was
gone and there was not eventhe breath
of life in lis body. His delegation
was tied hand and foot by the unit
rule, and Villas, airman Of the con
yen'ioD, would not give him the shadow
of fair play, even refusing to enter the
protest of Iammany on the record. II
was q great victory for Fellows, how
ever, Independent Of the advantage of
position. His enemies hung charmed
on his words and joined in the cheers
when he shook himself from his
feet and fell from the chair on which
he was standing by the physical inten
sity of his eloluence.
The Ratchet, however, was buried last
fall and is not yet unearthed. How soon
the force Of circumstances may bring
ii to light time alone can determine.
One thing, however, is certain: if the
scalping- knife is again drawn by these
two men it will be n fight worth seeing.
Cochran is Young, and like good
wine, improves with age. Fellows long
ago passed the half mile post OF life,
and unless he has the mental and physi-
cal stamina Of old Gladstone, is liable
10 go down in the encounter.